Getting Serious About My Art Business: How I Built A Schedule That Works For My Life

amber7430
Aug 11
4 min read

Something shifted in me recently. I realized that if I really wanted to grow my art business—not just dream about it, but truly build it—I had to get serious. That didn’t mean losing my creative freedom or becoming a robot to a calendar. It meant finding a way to give my ideas structure, direction, and the space they deserve.

With a busy household, four kids, and a lot of responsibilities, I’ve often found myself trying to squeeze in art whenever I can. But the truth is, art can’t just live in the cracks of my life anymore—it deserves a real seat at the table.

So I sat down and made a plan.

Step 1: Start with the Big Picture – My Yearly Goals

Before I could plan the day-to-day stuff, I had to ask myself:“What am I actually working toward?”

I took some quiet time to write out my big goals for the year. These weren’t just about making more art (although that’s part of it). I wanted to:

Build a stronger online presence
Connect more consistently with my audience
Create a cohesive body of work
Establish myself as both an artist and a creative business owner
Monetize more strategically (through prints, originals, or collaborations)

Having these big goals in front of me helped give direction to all the smaller steps that would follow.

Step 2: Monthly Themes to Stay Inspired and Focused

One of the most helpful things I did was choose a theme for each month. Not only does this keep my content and artwork cohesive, but it also reduces overwhelm. Instead of trying to do everything at once, I can focus on one topic, mood, or technique each month.

For example, one month might be focused on coastal landscapes, another on abstract expression. A month could be devoted to reinterpreting old work, or exploring a new medium. These themes fuel both my creativity and my content planning.

Step 3: Weekly & Daily Structure That Supports My Goals

Once I had my themes in place, I started building out my weekly schedule. This part required a lot of trial and error. I needed a plan that was ambitious but still realistic—especially with kids, life, and everything in between.

I now assign focus areas to each day of the week. Here’s a simplified version:

Monday – Studio day: painting + behind-the-scenes content
Tuesday – Write blog post or newsletter
Wednesday – Social media content day: photos, editing, captions
Thursday – Website updates, admin work
Friday – Video day: shoot process clips, reels, or time-lapse
Saturday/Sunday – Flex days: time for family, rest, and fishing 🎣

I also created a social media content calendar so I don’t wake up every day wondering what to post. Some of my favorite post types include:

Studio shots
Time-lapse of paintings in progress
Works in progress (WIP)
Throwbacks to older pieces
Art tips, behind-the-scenes thoughts, or personal updates

This way, I stay present online without feeling overwhelmed.

Step 4: Daily Planning – Hour by Hour

This might sound intense, but hear me out. Once I broke down my day hour by hour, it was like a light bulb went off. I finally saw how much time I do have when I plan it intentionally.

I now block off time each day for:

Painting
Filming content (even if it’s just 10 minutes)
Writing (blog posts, newsletters, captions)
Editing and uploading videos
Family time and household responsibilities
My other job
Self-care, downtime, and—you guessed it—fishing 🎣

I don’t follow this schedule perfectly every day, but having it gives me a rhythm. It’s a tool, not a prison.

Step 5: Leaving Space for Life

One of the most important things I learned? Don’t schedule every second. Creativity needs breathing room. Life needs breathing room.

So I made sure to leave open blocks in my week. Some days are lighter to allow for unexpected life stuff, rest, or inspiration that shows up unannounced. I even scheduled a regular fishing day, because that’s something that recharges me in a way nothing else does. It may seem unrelated to art, but it’s not—my best ideas often come to me when I’m out on the water.

Final Thoughts: Creating a Life that Supports Your Creativity

This process wasn’t easy. I’m still adjusting and refining. But I’ve learned something important:Discipline doesn’t limit creativity—it protects it.

By building this schedule, I’ve taken my dreams and given them structure. I’ve created a routine that lets me show up for my art and my family in ways that feel aligned and sustainable.

If you’re a creative person trying to juggle life, business, and inspiration, I encourage you to start with just one step. Define a goal. Choose a theme. Plan one week at a time. You don’t have to do it all at once.

Start messy if you need to. Just start.

Your creativity is worth the time, the planning, and the commitment.

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Let me know in the comments or by email if you’ve been trying to get more structure in your creative life—I'd love to hear what’s working (or not working) for you. 💬🎨

-Amber

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